Queen of Apostles Catholic Parish

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Confirmation Prep – Saintapalooza

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Session Overview for Catechists
Slides * Catechist Guide (with Homework & reminders on p. 2-3)

  • Track A: Monday 10/28/2024, 6:45-8:30 p.m.
  • Track B: taught Tuesday 10/29 and Wednesday 10/30 in Religion class

Gathering Icebreaker (5 min.)

Scenes from a Cup (Charades)
Candidates take turns silently miming actions written on slips drawn from the cup at the center of their table.  Other group members guess the name of the action being performed. The point is that we can read actions like we read words, and draw understanding from them.  If time, you can also share journal p. 45 responses from the homework,

Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Beatitudes Reading: Matthew 5:3-12

Joe Melendrez, “Mercy”

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW6_QJg96ic

The Beatitudes and Sainthood (15 min)

Beatitudes Don’t Be Fooled handout
backed by slides which translates the Beatitudes into modern language (a.k.a. into emojis)

Saints Presentation

  • The Communion of Saints: As Catholics, we look up to the example of the holy men and women who have come before us. Through a particular process called canonization, the Church recognizes a holy person an official Saint (with a capital S).  Part of that process is looking at the miracles that have happened due to the intercession of that saint.  Intercession means that we can ask a saint to pray for us, often as the patron saint for particular things that would have also been important to that saint in his or her earthly lifetime. The Church does not make Saints, only recognizes them.   All of us are called to be saints (with a lower case s) by leading good and holy lives.
  • How to “Read” a Saint Image: The Christian faith and example of the saints have inspired many artists over the centuries.  Because there are so many saints, it is important to know something about how to recognize the language of symbols used in their portraits.
    Here are some basics:  Guidelines For Reading Saint Images

Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Saint of the 21st Century

Preferred video to show (video file uploaded into slides and should play OK directly from there)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGaAGFDFIDg

Back-up video to show (if needed due to technical difficulties with slides)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ0p_3o-uMc

Breakout Session at Tables: Saint Bios (45 min)

  • Each table or group receives a large envelope with about 15 saint bio cards with information about different saints listed on them. These saint biographies were written by teens just like you. For any student doing a make-up without the physical cards, an index listing all of the cards can be found online at the bottom of this post on an older website.
  • After the group has read through a selection of the bio cards, choose one that means something to you, which you will work with personally.
  • Complete the Questions Handout for the saint you have chosen.
  • Virtual students do NOT need to read all of them; let yourself become interested in 3-5, read them, and then select 1 to answer the Questions Handout.

Candidates do not have to commit to any of the saints explored tonight as their Confirmation Name saint.  Rather, the purpose of this activity is to introduce you to the stories of different saints, how to understand their stories and take them as a model for living your life.

Guided Reflection: The Cost of Discipleship (15 min)

As disciples who are Catholic Christians, we have been called by our God to “love as Jesus loved, deny ourselves and follow him.”  (Reading and individual reflection on changes we will make in our own lives to become better disciples)

Nothing can stand between us and Jesus:

  • Not our family (if they are not on fire with their own faith)
  • Not our activities (that might crowd out our prayer time)
  • Not our possessions (our stuff that we should not value more than our relationships with God and others)

We have to be ready to suffer, to recognize that this path of following Jesus is not always going to be a happy one.  It will sometimes be dull, sometimes challenging or painful.  Jesus gives us two examples to show why it’s worth it.  We have to be like the builder who budgets money to build a tower, and like the king who wins the battle even with his troops outnumbered.  We have to look at the cost of discipleship which must be paid before we see the great results that will come!

  • Response Sheet: The Cost of Discipleship
    Read the quotation at the top, a definition of the cost of discipleship. Consider the ways you might better love others as Jesus loved, or ways you might sacrifice the pleasures of life that are standing between you and Jesus.  In what ways will you follow Jesus as his disciple?
    Then look at the 6 questions written up and down the left and right margins of the page.  Inside the large cross outline, jot down one or two words in response to each question.  These words represent more complicated answers that will stay in your own heart.
    Look back at the words you have written.  Among these words are the barriers between you and Jesus as well as the sacrifices that will bring you closer to him.  They are your cross.  Read the invitation from Jesus at the bottom of the page: “Take up your cross and follow me.”
  • Turning in Sponsor Forms: Now also pick up your blue Sponsor form (Track A | Track B).  Your Sponsor will help you to carry the cross so that the load is lighter.  Just like Simon of Cyrene who was chosen from the crowd to help Jesus carry his cross, you have chosen your Sponsor to be at your side and help you when the load gets to be too much.
  • Prayer Responses: Take up your cross and your Sponsor form and lay them before the image of Jesus on the prayer table, to ask him to help you and your Sponsor as you leave those things behind.  As you await your turn or return to your seat, each person prays individually in silence using the 2-sided saints prayer cards (reading the info and praying the prayer on back / contemplating and “reading” the image on front) from the small, white envelope for each group.
    Some popular cards for our virtual students to choose from:

     

Homework and Reminders (5 min)

  • Choose a saint prayer card (2-sided, with the colored border) to keep and use.  This does not mean you will be choosing this saint for your Confirmation Name, but that is an option if you are moved by their story.
  • NO CLASS next week.  Retreat next Tuesday instead!
    Rise Up Retreat information:

    • Tuesday, November 5 (Election Day, which is a day off for CPS and most other schools, but a day of class for Catholic Schools)
    • 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Holy Family Hall (basement) and Queen of Angels Church, both at 2330 W. Sunnyside
      • Track A: be dropped off at 8:30 a.m. and picked up at 2:30 p.m.; plan now who will bring you or how you will get there if your parents will be working that day!
      • Track B: arrive to and depart from school as usual, you can walk over and back as a group
    • lunch will be provided (pizza with fresh fruit, carrots & dip, cookies, soft drinks or water)
    • a refillable water bottle labeled with your name is suggested
    • expect witness talks, music, games, prayer, small group activities, Living Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass, and more!
    • First Year Confirmation classes (7th grade / Level 7 and Level 7+ Sunday RE) are also invited to attend
  • Next class for both tracks with Sponsors and Parents: 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, November 11, in St. Matthias Church, 2310 W. Ainslie
  • Homework due at next class (Flyer with details of homework is set as pages 2 and 3 of catechist plan – Track A on p. 2 and Track B on p. 3)
    • Do pages 2-4 in your journal
    • Do some research for your Confirmation Name selection.
      • Bring in the names of 2 saints you are considering for your Confirmation Name, and something about each of them that you think is interesting. It may be helpful to jot down notes for yourself so you do not forget the names and details of the saints you researched.  The final essay is due in mid-November.
      • See page 2 of “Selecting a Confirmation Name” assignment (Track A | Track B) for research tips. While your search might start with Googling, please draw your research notes from the saint’s entry on CatholicSaints.info, CatholicOnline (Catholic.org), or a similar Catholic website.  Wikipedia is not the best place to draw information about saints from because it is so comprehensive about historical detail that it rarely gets to the heart of who the person was and why he or she is a saint.  It is not a practical resource.  For example, if you wanted to bake muffins, you would look up the recipe on a cooking website, not just investigate the history or variety of muffins on Wikipedia.
  • Remember that  Sponsor & Parent Night is on Monday, November 11.
    • Make sure a Parent and your Sponsor(s) (or at least an Adult “stunt-double” from your family) can come with you.  Each youth Candidate should have a Sponsor and/or parents in attendance to work with as a small group.
    • Tell your catechist table leader if you have to come alone or if you will be sharing a parent or Sponsor(s) with a sibling/cousin/friend also in the class.
    • Bring in any missing Commitment (beige) or Sponsor (blue) forms (download for your correct Track at the blog post from the first class).

Closing Prayer Ritual (5 min)

Litany of the Saints with option to be rapped!
(leader script with approximate timings | backing track)

  • Next steps for choosing Confirmation Name
    • Read instructions for Confirmation Name reflection paper (final paper due week after Thanksgiving)
    • Keep researching saints using the guidelines and resources

Note for later on:

  • Service Hours can be done now, due finally in early February. 
  • Plan for you, your Sponsor(s) and Parent(s) to all attend the class session on Monday, November 11, 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  It will take place at St. Matthias Church, 2310 W. Ainslie, so we have room to spread out.
  • Confirmation Name essay due in mid-December – this class helps to launch our efforts to choose and reflect on a Confirmation Name!
  • Letter to the Pastor due in mid-January, to be assigned as classwork in December during the Anointed lesson
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